Method and arrangement for packing at least one article in a container and plurality of types of containers for shipping articles

Abstract

An arrangement for packing at least one article in a container comprises an automatic picking list generation means ( 136 ) generating a picking list ( 138 ) which specifies at least the at least one article to be placed in the container; closing means ( 142 ) for closing the container; and inflating means ( 146 ) for inflating a dunnage bag provided in the closed container. The invention proposes that the arrangement further comprises automatic bag type selection means ( 134 ) for selecting a type of the inflatable dunnage bag to be used, the selection depending at least on a parameter of the container.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of packing at least one article in a container, comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of containers each of a different size and/or shape, 
 (b) providing a plurality of inflatable dunnage bags each of a different size and/or shape, 
 (c) assigning each size and/or shape of dunnage bag to one size and/or shape of container, 
 (d) subsequent to steps (a) through (c), identifying the at least one article to be packed, 
 (e) selecting a container from the plurality of containers that will accommodate the identified at least one article, 
 (f) supplying the selected container, 
 (g) placing the identified at least one article in the selected container, 
 (h) placing the dunnage bag assigned to the selected container in the selected container in an uninflated state, 
 (i) closing the selected container, and 
 (j) inflating the dunnage bag. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected container has a volume, the identified at least one article has a volume, and a difference between the container volume and the identified at least one article volume is defined as a void volume, and wherein the inflated dunnage bag has a volume equal to or less than the void volume. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing at least one hole at a specified location in a wall of the selected container, 
 connecting an inflation valve of the dunnage bag at the hole, 
 inflating the dunnage bag with the inflation valve, and 
 measuring inflation of the dunnage bag through the hole. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3  further comprising automatically erecting the selected container and automatically drilling the at least one hole in the wall of the selected container. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a plurality of containers each of a different size and/or shape comprises providing three different sizes of containers, and wherein the step of providing a plurality of inflatable dunnage bags each of a different size and/or shape comprises providing three different sizes of inflatable dunnage bags. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of providing a plurality of containers each of a different size and/or shape comprises providing four different sizes of containers, and wherein the step of providing a plurality of inflatable dunnage bags each of a different size and/or shape comprises providing four different sizes of inflatable dunnage bags. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein steps (c) through (e) are performed by warehouse management software running on a computer. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein steps (f), (i) and (j) are performed automatically, and steps (g) and (h) are performed manually. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  wherein steps (c) through (e) are performed by warehouse management software running on a computer, wherein steps (f), (i) and (j) are performed automatically, and wherein steps (g) and (h) are performed manually. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of generating a picking list listing the identified at least one article, the selected container, and the dunnage bag assigned to the selected container.